It’s been reported today that a teenaged boy became so “obsessed” by Coronation Street killer character John Stape – who was played by Graeme Hawley – that he carried out a copycat murder.

As viewers of the show will recall, John murdered his teacher friend Charlotte Hoyle (Becky Hindley) by beating her over the head with a hammer. The blow didn’t kill her, but her life support was eventually stopped and she died in hospital.

However, the Sun reports that the teenager – who can’t be named for legal reasons – emulated the attack by hitting a woman over the head with a hammer “several times” before setting fire to her body.

Nottingham Crown Court heard that the body was so badly damaged, the victim had to be identified by dental records… Read more & comment »

Well, killer John Stape’s reign of terror is well and truly over, for as viewers saw last night, he gasped his last in hospital and went to the great soap opera in the sky – or to hell, depending on your karmic viewpoint – with wife Fiz’s tears fresh on his face…

It was all very emotional as Fiz was permitted to visit John (Graeme Hawley) on his deathbed, and he miraculously awoke from his coma when he heard baby Hope crying.

And of course, the whole episode was full of the plot holes I made mention of in this article, but I can’t feel too bad about them given how very good Jennie McAlpine’s acting was in last night’s episode.

However, my question is this – did you cry when John died?

I’m asking because I pretty much always blub when I see someone else doing it. Real life, fiction; it’s all the same to me, and my family think it’s hugely amusing… Read more & comment »

Let me begin by saying that I totally get the whole suspension of disbelief thing for the sake of exciting drama.

That said, there is, for me at any rate, a big difference in suspending my disbelief and plot holes big enough to drive a truck through…

And the latest John Stape-Rosie Webster kidnap storyline is an example of one of those plot hole riddled storylines that I find hard to swallow.

As we saw in last night’s episode, John – who’s played by Graeme Hawley – posing as a prospective buyer, made an appointment via an estate agent to meet Rosie (Helen Flanagan) at her boyfriend Jason Grimshaw’s (Ryan Thomas) flat.

John called himself “Mr Chips”, which, just to veer off a tad, reminded me of the tragic case of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh who went missing in 1986 after arranging to meet a potential buyer who called himself Mr Kipper. You can read more about Suzy – who’s never been found – here.

But to get back to my point, why, oh why, didn’t John – who wants his admission to facilitate his wife Fiz’s release from prison – just make a written confession and post it to police?

Or better yet, a video taped confession? Read more & comment »

As fans of Corrie will know, serial killer John Stape (Graeme Hawley) is back in Weatherfield…

We saw him last night arranging to meet Rosie Webster (Helen Flanagan) at the flat she and Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas) are selling, and he’s set to kidnap the model yet again!

However, this time, he kidnaps her so he can confess his crimes, believing that if Rosie goes to the authorities on his behalf, they’ll end his wife Fiz’s murder trial and set her free.

But of course, his plan goes awry and he ends up severely injured after a car chase ends in a crash.

And while John’s in hospital on his death bed, he’ll beg to be allowed to see Fiz, who is of course played by Jennie McAlpine.

Of the storyline, and of Fiz’s feelings towards John, Jennie told Soaplife, “I think there might be a bit of love still there, especially when she thinks he’s going to die and she realises he did come back for her… Read more & comment »

Graeme Hawley, who stars in Coronation Street as killer John Stape, has teamed up with Emmerdale star Jeff Hordley – who plays Cain Dingle – to launch an online radio show.

Graeme – who returns to Corrie tonight as John Stape continues his reign of terror – told What’s On TV magazine that he thinks he and Jeff may end up talking about soaps all the time on their show.

He said, “I’m about to start doing a radio show with Jeff Hordley who plays Cain Dingle in Emmerdale.

“He and I used to do a radio show together until a couple of years ago and we had to stop because of work commitments. But now we’re starting up Radio Republic… Read more & comment »

Graeme Hawley – who’s due to return to the Street in forthcoming episodes – has been telling TV Times magazine what it’s been like playing the role of murderer John Stape.

He began by saying, “I’ve been very lucky that we’ve been able to get so much mileage out of this character. You knew John was a wrong ‘un from week two, really.

“Ultimately, those kind of characters have to get their comeuppance, and I don’t mean it in a boastful way, but to keep going for four and a half years must be something of a record.”

As to what John’s ultimate fate is, Graeme was giving nothing away, saying only, “I won’t say whether he dies or not, but there’s more of a full stop.”

When asked what he personally thinks of John, Graeme said, “He’s got to be one of the nicest serial killers in the history of television… Read more & comment »

Corrie star Graeme Hawley – who’s set to return to Weatherfield as killer John Stape next week – has revealed that he’d love to have a role in every one of the UK’s biggest soaps.

Speaking to the PA, Graeme revealed that as well as the role of John in Corrie, he’s also already appeared as copper Martin Crowe in Emmerdale, and, when he was just 9 years old, he was an extra on EastEnders.

He said of the prospect of having a role in every soap, “It would be quite good to get the whole set.”

He added, “I was in EastEnders when I was nine years old, and I rode a bike across the Square and stood in a telephone box.

“So I have, technically speaking, done Coronation Street, Emmerdale and EastEnders… Read more & comment »

As fans of Coronation Street will most likely know, killer John Stape (Graeme Hawley) is due to make a dramatic return to Weatherfield soon, hoping that by confessing to the murders he committed, his wife Fiz will be freed from prison.

However, in his endeavour to make the authorities listen to him, he yet again kidnaps Rosie Webster (Helen Flanagan) thinking that she can relay his confession to the police on his behalf.

Meanwhile, Fiz – who is of course played by Jennie McAlpine – looks set to face life imprisonment for three murders she didn’t commit. Read more & comment »

The Sun today reports that Jennie McAlpine, who of course plays jailbird Fiz Stape, has filmed scenes in which her character attends the funeral of her runaway husband, but she’s still in handcuffs.

It’s been previously reported that John (Graeme Hawley) will be seen kidnapping Rosie Webster (Helen Flanagan) yet again, but he’s spotted by her dad Kevin (Michael Le Vell) who gives chase.

The car chase will result in John crashing and being seriously injured. In hospital, and on his deathbed, he’ll confess the murders, which in theory, should be enough to free Fiz… Read more & comment »

Just when things were looking inevitably bleak for fiery red head, Fiz Stape, her murder charge story line is set to make a dramatic u-turn in up and coming episodes of the ITV soap.

With one murder charge being increased to three in as many days, Fiz Stape’s (Jennie McAlpine) suspended sentence for fraudulently posing as Colin Fishwick’s wife for financial gain does not have the desired effect it would have for most, as it seems her and daughter Hope’s, future is indefinitely behind bars.

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Graeme Hawley has admitted that he was relieved to leave ‘Coronation Street’ because he had started to worry that it would “ruin” his career if he stayed on the show.

Graeme’s exit scenes will air on Friday night, after evil killer John’s crimes will finally catch up with him and the star confessed that he is glad to be leaving before the show’s writers take his storyline “too far”.
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Graeme Hawley has confessed that he wants to star in his own Coronation Street spin off show.

The 37 year old actor is best known as serial killer John Stape on the ITV soap and in coming weeks we will see the climax of his big storyline, when his secret crimes are discovered.

However, although he has already finished filming on Corrie, Graeme thinks there is more to explore with John and told The Sun:
Read more & comment »

‘Coronation Street’ star Graeme Hawley teared up at his recent leaving party, as he was paying tribue to his on screen wife Jennie McAlpine.

The actor – best known as kidnapper, murderer and slightly unhinged teacher John Stape – has filmed his final scenes for the ITV soap and at his farewell do in Manchester, Graeme praised his long suffering costar, calling her his “rock”.

He said: “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Read more & comment »

It’s been revealed today that Corrie villain John Stape – who’s played by Graeme Hawley – will plunge to his death in scenes that will air in June.

As viewers will probably know, John has become the Street’s most unlikely mass murderer, but has so far got away with his crimes…

However, when workers dig up the concrete floor at Underworld and discover Colin Fishwick’s body – which John placed there last year after Colin died of natural causes – Stape’s web of lies begins to become unraveled. Read more & comment »

Graeme Hawley is worried about dashing from scene to scene in Coronation Street’s live episode tonight.

The actor – who plays John Stape in the ITV1 soap – will be seen rushing to hide the dying body of his secret accomplice Charlotte (Becky Hindley), who he brutally attacked with a hammer on Monday (06.12.10).

Graeme explained: “I’ve got to sprint so fast from scene to scene that I’ve asked them to beef up my shoes with special grips because I’m worried about slipping over.

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